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It’s almost as if a spotlight had materialised around her, because she was all he could look at. From the moment her black heels took their first steps into the ballroom, his eyes followed, taking in the bright crimson of her dress and the way her raven hair had foregone its usual pigtails, flowing freely behind her.
If there wasn’t half a room of space between them, Adrien was sure he would’ve made his way over and run his fingers through it - it looked really soft, what hair products did she use?
He was glad he didn’t, though, for he isn’t transformed right now, and he doesn’t think Adrien has formed a close enough relationship with Ladybug that he could casually waltz up to her and put his hand in her hair like he had an entitlement to it.
No, that would just make her think he was a creep.
And what good would that do down the line, when they finally reveal their identities to each other? He didn’t want the first words that came out of her mouth to be “Oh, I remember you, you’re that weird person from that party a while back .”
Frankly, he would rather die in a hole than have that happen.
So, like any sane person would do, Adrien decided that he isn’t going to run his fingers through her hair. No, he’s just going to walk up to her and start a perfectly normal conversation as if he isn’t her superhero partner who also happens to be wildly in love with her.
Piece of cake.
It didn’t take long for her to notice him. Adrien found it sweet how iridescent fireworks went off in the depths of her irises as she subtly twisted herself in his direction, hoping the people she was talking to didn’t realise how badly she wanted to leave.
How badly she wanted to see him . If Adrien hadn’t been perpetually aware of his father’s glare tailing him, he would’ve been sure this was another of his late-night, locked-in-his-chest, fantasies.
“Adrien!” she waved, finally making her way over to him, her figure outright bouncing with excitement.
“I’m probably hallucinating.” he blurted out, eyes widening when he realised what exactly it was that he said. “I-I mean,” I love you, “do you wanna get away from here? It’s getting a little stuffy, honestly.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Her brows crinkled as she gave him a once-over, probably looking for signs of ill health after he stupidly told her he was hallucinating . He didn’t dare utter a word, not when he could practically feel the edges of her lashes kissing his face and the depths of her bluebell irises bleeding pure warmth. For him .
No, he didn’t want to speak, not when he was sure that in his tongue-tied state, a flurry of nonsense would come spilling out of his mouth, and then where would that leave him?
So he nodded. Aggressively. To make sure she got the point.
Ladybug peeked up at him from behind her lashes. “Well, if you are, then, I would love to.”
She gave a soft grin, and Adrien felt warmed to his core.